With 2.5
million layers and 600,000 pullets, Daylay Egg Farm utilizes a variety of manure
management practices to protect the environment.
Although in recent years more of the manure has been moving off-site,
Daylay owns 2,000 acres on which manure is applied. Switchgrass filter strips are being planted to minimize
sediment and nutrient runoff. Daylay
is also working in partnership with several public agencies to restore a stream
habitat by adding swithgrass buffers and tree corridors. Another recent addition is the use of two pivot irrigation
systems for disposal of wastewater. Egg
wash and filter backwash water are piped underground from lagoons to the
irrigation system and applied at a rate of 0.1 to 0.2 inches.
Daylay is also working with the NRCS and Union SWCD to install a
stormwater pond and wetland finishing basin for containment and treatment of
runoff from one facility.
Important to
Daylay’s manure management is composting of approximately 50% of the manure
generated. The automated system
uses belts to remove manure from the layer facility to the composting building
over a four-day period. The use of
a low sodium feed to reduce initial moisture and of aeration whisks along the
belt results in a decrease of the moisture content from 75% to 50% by the time
it reaches the compost building. Forced
aeration of the windrows and frequent, automated turning further reduce the
moisture content. Benefits of the
composting system include breaking the fly reproduction cycle, less ammonia loss
from the manure, a dry product that is more economical to transport, and a
better bird environment. Daylay
holds field days to educate farmers regarding the benefits of using the compost
as a fertilizer, including micronutrients, beneficial soil microorganisms and
disease suppression. Daylay is
currently transitioning 100 acres to organic and working with a local organic
farm to evaluate the impact of the product on yield.